Because co-ops are often cheaper than condos, Sarah had a smaller down payment and a lower monthly mortgage payment.

There was no title insurance or mortgage recording tax, saving her thousands at the closing table.

However, as Sarah settled in, she realized why that lower price tag existed:

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Before buying, she had to endure a rigorous application process, submitting years of tax returns, bank statements, and personal references to a board that could reject her for any non-discriminatory reason.